This Week in Cricket #170: Aus go 2-1 up in the BGT & SA qualify for the WTC final

The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the show, Baldy, Stu and Raj react to Australia's win in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, as well as South Africa's win against Pakistan that makes them the first team to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

We start with some initial reaction to the Day 5 action in Melbourne as Australia secured victory against India. Was the decision to bowl Travis Head after tea a masterstroke? Did India get their tactics wrong? And what's going on with Rohit Sharma?

Next there's praise for the young stars who shone brightly - Sam Konstas, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Yashasvi Jaiswal - as well as the old heads like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith & Marnus Labuschagne who provided the backbone for Australia's win. We also discuss Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance, whether he's getting enough support from the other bowlers, what India need to do to turn this around, and whether the Aussies need to consider changing a winning side for the Sydney test.

We finish up with a discussion about South Africa's win against Pakistan, which books them a spot in the World Test Championship final. Is it great for the game? Does their path to the final justify their inclusion? Are they massively under-rated? And how do we process the fact that they played a second-string side against NZ and still qualified with a test in hand?!

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0:00 Introduction

1:20 Australia v India Day 5 instant reaction - Travis Head turns the game

6:30 India's tactics

10:20 Rohit Sharma's frustration

15:35 Young stars shine - Sam Konstas

24:20 Is Mitchell Marsh under pressure?

27:15 Nitish Kumar Reddy's breakout hundred

31:30 Yashasvi Jaiswal continues to impress

36:45 Australia's experienced players stand up

45:00 Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance

50:15 How can India turn things around in Sydney?

57:00 South Africa make the World Test Championship Final

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